The Saudi Arabian general aviation sector, including business aviation, is set to undergo significant expansion with new government-sanctioned proposals.
The ambitious roadmap, “Saudi Arabia: A New Global Hub for General Aviation,” outlines a comprehensive plan to increase the number of airports, aircraft operators, and MRO facilities, driven by a projected 2.5-fold growth in tourism by 2030 and a total investment of SAR$365 billion ($97 billion) in tourism and aviation.
Six new dedicated general aviation airports are planned for Neom, Amaala, Jeddah, Makkah, Dammam, and Riyadh, with ultra-long-range business jets enhancing the reach and flexibility of private and corporate air travel. The roadmap envisions three FBO companies in operation within six years and anticipates a rise in business jet flights from five per 10,000 inhabitants in 2021 to 24 by 2030. This growth presents significant investment opportunities for financial institutions, leasing firms, and specialty insurance providers.
According to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the general aviation roadmap will contribute approximately SAR$7.8 billion to GDP and create over 35,000 jobs by 2030. “As we chart the course for the GACA’s general aviation roadmap, we must harness key trends to unlock the full potential of this sector,” said GACA president Abdulaziz Al-Duailej.
Since an anti-corruption drive targeting prominent Saudi businessmen began in 2017, industry experts have noted that a new direction for Saudi business aviation has been slow to develop. However, they now believe that the sector is finally poised for substantial growth and transformation.
